Perfect Pairings – Types of Wine: A Simple Guide
How Wine Gets Its Style 🍇
The style of a wine is largely influenced by the grape variety used, but also by winemaking techniques, climate, and region.
How grapes shape a wine’s style:
Flavour & Aroma – Different grape varieties have unique flavours. For example, Cabernet Sauvignon has dark fruit and spice notes, while Sauvignon Blanc is more citrusy and grassy.
Body & Texture – Some grapes naturally produce full-bodied wines (e.g. Chardonnay, Syrah/Shiraz), while others create light-bodied wines (e.g. Pinot Noir, Riesling).
Acidity & Tannins – High-acid grapes (e.g. Albariño, Chenin Blanc) produce crisp, refreshing wines, whereas tannin-rich grapes (e.g. Nebbiolo, Tempranillo) create structured, bold reds.
Sweetness & Dryness – Certain grapes are naturally sweeter (e.g. Muscat/Moscato, Riesling), while others are better suited for dry wines (e.g. Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache).
Sparkling & Dessert Wines – Some grapes, like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, are used in sparkling wines due to their balanced acidity. Others, like Sémillon and Tokaji, are perfect for sweet dessert wines.
Red Wines 🍷
Cabernet Sauvignon – A bold, full-bodied red with dark fruit flavours and a hint of spice.
Merlot – A smooth, medium-bodied red with soft tannins and a plum-like taste.
Pinot Noir – A light-bodied red known for its bright cherry flavours and silky texture.
Syrah/Shiraz – A rich, dark red with spicy, smoky notes and deep berry flavours.
Malbec – A deep, fruity red with hints of chocolate and blackberry.
Zinfandel – A jammy, bold red with spicy, peppery undertones.
Sangiovese – An Italian red with bright acidity and cherry-like flavours.
Tempranillo – A Spanish red with a mix of fruit and earthy flavours.
Nebbiolo – Nebbiolo is an Italian red wine grape variety predominantly associated with its native Piedmont region. A structured red with high tannins and floral, cherry notes.
Grenache – Grenache or Garnacha is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world. A medium-bodied red with a sweet, berry-forward taste.
White Wines 🍾
Chardonnay – A rich white wine with butter, vanilla, and tropical fruit flavours.
Sauvignon Blanc – A crisp, refreshing white with citrus and grassy notes.
Riesling – A light white wine that can be dry or sweet, often with floral and lime notes.
Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris – What’s surprising is that this wine is produced from a grayish-purple grape. A light, zesty white with pear and apple flavours.
Chenin Blanc – A versatile white wine that can be dry or sweet, often with honey notes.
Viognier – A floral white with peach and apricot flavours.
Albariño – A fresh, citrusy white wine from Spain. It produces absolutely delicious expressions despite being classed as an ‘alternative variety’ here in Australia, Albariño is a white wine grape whose parentage is questioned.
Gewürztraminer – A fragrant white with tropical fruit and spicy flavours.
Grüner Veltliner – A crisp Austrian white with green apple and peppery notes.
Muscat (Moscato) – A sweet, fruity white with floral aromas. Muscatel is a sweet wine or dried grape that comes from the muscat grape. Muscatel grapes have a musky flavour and are often used to make raisins and sweet wines
Rosé Wines 🌸
Provence Rosé – renowned for its pale pink colour and refreshing character epitomizes the elegance and sophistication of rosé wines from the Provence region . A dry, light pink wine with crisp citrus and berry flavours.
White Zinfandel – A sweet, fruity rosé made from red Zinfandel grapes with strawberry notes.
Grenache Rosé – A soft, berry-flavoured citrus blossom and rose petal rosé with a light finish.
Sangiovese Rosé – A refreshing, food-friendly rosé with cherry notes.
Pinot Noir Rosé – A delicate rosé with floral and strawberry aromas. It’s a dry rosé wine that has many sweet characteristics.
Sparkling Wines 🍾✨
Champagne – A famous French sparkling wine, often dry with crisp citrus and toasty notes.
Prosecco – A light, fruity Italian sparkling wine with soft bubbles.
Cava – A Spanish sparkling wine with citrus and nutty flavours.
Franciacorta – A high-quality Italian sparkling wine similar to Champagne.
Crémant – A French sparkling wine made outside the Champagne region.
Sparkling Rosé – A pink sparkling wine with fruity and floral notes.
Sekt – A German sparkling wine that can be dry or sweet.
Dessert & Fortified Wines 🍷🍬
Port – A sweet, fortified red wine from Portugal, often with rich berry and chocolate notes.
Sherry – A fortified Spanish wine that can be dry or sweet, with nutty flavours.
Madeira – A fortified wine from Portugal, with caramel and nutty notes.
Marsala – A fortified Italian wine, used in both cooking and drinking.
Ice Wine (Eiswein) – A sweet wine made from frozen grapes, with intense fruit flavours.
Sauternes – A famous French dessert wine with honey and apricot notes.
Tokaji – A Hungarian sweet wine with a rich golden colour and honeyed taste.
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise – A sweet, floral dessert wine from France.
Orange Wines 🧡
Orange wine is made using white grapes, but instead of pressing the juice and fermenting it without the skins (like white wine), the grapes are fermented with their skins and seeds, similar to how red wine is made. This process gives the wine its distinctive deep amber or orange colour and a more complex flavour.
Skin-Contact White Wines – White wines made like reds, giving them a rich, deep flavour.
Ramato (Pinot Grigio) – An Italian orange wine with a copper colour and bold taste.
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